Explanation on report cards
Dear Lower School Families,
The Trimester One Report Card is available online this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. We provide report cards as an assessment tool three times a year (trimesters: November, February, and May). Remember that children develop and master skills at varying rates. Concentrate on how your child is doing as an individual, rather than comparing them to a sibling or a classmate. The Trimester One Report Card is a follow-up to the information shared by the teacher during the October conference.
The report card is a standards-based assessment tool that shares how a child is performing in school and what needs improvement during Trimester Two. This is different from a traditional report card, which gives a single letter or number grade for broad subject categories. A standards-based report card places the emphasis on learning, rather than on comparisons among students. Each area is divided into a list of skills and knowledge that students are responsible for learning. By providing specific descriptions of the learning expectations and rating students on each, parents can see where performance is proficient, and where it needs continued focus and support.
The classroom report card includes a focus on social and emotional development, skills to support learning, and specific academic skills. Each section is divided into a list of skills and knowledge that students are responsible for learning at varying levels of complexity. Students receive an assessment mark for each standard. A narrative section of curriculum is provided to outline the material covered in Trimester One. A narrative section for a comment from the teacher relating to your child’s performance is also included to outline specific information and establish goals for the upcoming trimester. Specialist report cards also include a list of skills and knowledge within the special area, along with a narrative section to outline the curriculum covered during the trimester.
The assessment scale to record performance for each standard is:
E: Exceeds Expectations
Consistently and independently applies and extends key concepts, process, and skill above grade level expectations for the trimester.
M: Meets Expectations
Demonstrates a general understanding of the concept and skill and performs to grade level expectations for the trimester.
NW: Needs Work
Inconsistent in their performance and requires repeated assistance with the concept and skill; student is making progress but having difficulty applying skills on a consistent basis for the trimester.
NA: Not assessed during this trimester
A student may receive an E for a standard in Trimester One, and then receive NW or M in Trimester Two, due to new or more complex expectations within the curriculum.
Absences and tardies are also noted on the report card and website. Email Lyric McKnight with any questions relating to an absence or tardy. Thank you for your assistance in communicating this information to the Lower School, so that we may process student absences properly.
You may access the report card by logging in to the website. Select Children, and then select your student’s name. Select the Progress tab. Under the Performance box, select LS Report Card 2020-2021. Select the link, and it will download as a pdf document. Save a copy for your records until the Trimester Two report card is released.
For Second through Fifth Grades, your child’s recent MAP assessment data will be mailed to you in the coming week. If you have questions or need assistance as you access the report card, please feel welcome to contact me at 303-914-2554.
Thank you,
LS Principal
Colorado Academy
© 2023 Colorado Academy
